Grain-binder



(No Model.) l 3 sheets-sheen 1.

G. B.. SHAFER.

` GRAIN BINDER.`

No. 249,263. Patented'Nov.8,188l.

j A M42@ ff ATTQRNEYS N. PETERS. mmoruumgmvm, wn c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2f G. B. SHAFER.

GRAIN BINDER.

No. 249,263. Patented Nov. 8,1881.

WITNESSES [7@ INVENTNQR ATTORNEYS (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. B. SHAFER. GRAIN BINDER.Y No. 249,263. Patented Nov. 8,1881.

a my.. @V/ m@ i ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATElwr OFFICE- f *.GEOEGE E. snAEEE, OE CLEVELAND, OHIO.

GRAIN-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,263, dated November 8, 1881.

Application mea July 16, 1581. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern: i

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. SHAEEE, of

Gleveland,in thecoun ty of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain newand useful Improvementsin Grain-Binders and I do here-l by declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact'description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which fornl` myimproved binding mechanism attached,

showing themanner of connecting my mechanism with the ordinary reaperyandpits relativeposition to the cutting-bar. Fig. 2 shows aplan View of a'frame adapted to hold the operative parts of my device, together with the mechanism for operatin g the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical View of the mechanism adapted to grasp and com press the straw, shown in a closed position. Fig. 4 is a similar view, shown in a partially-open position. Fig. 5 is a plan View of one of the' presser-arms extended. Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the frame holding my device and the mechanism necessary for` operating it, with a portion of the side broken away in'order to show the construction alld relative position of one of the jointed arms'. Fig. 7 is a detached plan view of a portion of one of the arms, showing the arm in an extended position, and the relative position of thehook and the guide-wheel that operatesit when in an open position. Fig. Sis a detached plan view of a portion of one of the arms, showing in detail thelocking mechanism. Fig. 9 is a detached View, in perspective, of the points or ngers of the' arms, showing their manner of contact as the two arms are brought together. y

In the 'said drawings, Avisany suitable frame adapted to contain and support the operative parts ofmy device.

Bis a pulley suitably geared with the driving .mechanism of a reaper, whereby it receives a continuous rotary motion, and so connected that it may be thrown in or out of gear at the will of the operator, or may, by suitable mechanism, be geared to receive an intermittent motion. It is attached to the outer end of lthe shaft B. This shaft has two cranks, B2 and B3. The cranklz2 is connected by means of the pitman C with the crank C upon the shaft D. Thus the crank B2 communicates an oscillating motion through thecrank Cto the sliaft D. The crank B3 is connected by the pitman E with the crank E upon the shaft F, through which mechanism an. oscillating motion is communicated -to the shaft F.

l To the outer ends ofthe shafts D and F are permanently attached the rst joints of the l larms which form the substantial portion of my invention. This portion of my invention consists of two double arms jointed and adapted to be extended in a horizontal position, or

at the will of the operator, the extremities brought together above the frame in a circu-r lar position, as that shown lin Fig. 3. These arms, as above stated, are made doubleor of two separate sections, each of substantially the same character, connected together by cross-pieces G.. These cross-pieces may be of any suitable length, so as topresent,with the arms, a sufficient bearing-surface to hold the straw rigidly in position.

At the end of thecross-pieces H, at the second joint of either arm, is attached a lever, I, which carries upon its outer extremitya pulley, "K, which is adapted to run upon the outer surface of the hooks L, which serve'as atrack for the pulley. This lever I, which carries the pulley K, is connected with the main shafts F and D by means of the bell-crank levers M M and the connecting-links N N. Through this bell-crank M and `connecting-link N motion is given by the shafts D or F to this lever I and its pulley K. When the arms are extended the pulley occupies the position upon its track upon the outer surface of the hook L. in Fig. 7.)

1t will be observed that each successive jointof the arms is connected together in sub- .stantially the same manner as the first by means of a bell-crankand link connectiom It therefore will be unnecessaryto describe `par- (Shown IOO ticularly each of the joints of the arm. It may with fingers of adii'erent character, but adapted to engage with cach other, as shown in Fig. 9, the finger of one ot' the arms being a single piece, while that ofl the other consistsof two pieces sufficiently removed to admit the single 1in ger of the opposite arm between them.

It will be apparent that the bell-cranks M, with their links, will only permit a certain curved movement' to the arms-that is, they could not buckle back upon themselves. It is also necessary to lconstruct the different sections of the arms in such ai'nanner as to prevent them from assuming a backward position beyond the horizontal. To accomplish this, upon the lower end of each tooth is prepared a curved surface adapted to t a like curved recess in the end of the tooth preceding it.

As shown in Fig. 8, upon the lower edge of each section is a'stop, 0', which comes in contact with a similar stop, 03, upon the preceding section, which prevents the arm from opening farther than to a horizontal position. To still further strengthen the bell-crank and link supports mentioned above, and to prevent the arms, whenin a circular position,from buckling or going farther than desired, a. stop is also placed upon the upper edges of each of the sections of the arms, as shown in Fig. 8 at o2 and o4. Now it will be apparent that when the arms assume a horizontal position, or a wide open position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, and in detail in Fig. 8, the stops o and o3 will come together, and when the arms assume a circular position, as shown in Fig. 3 'of the drawings, and in detail in Fig. 8, the stops o2 and o4 will come together and prevent any further movement in that direction.

rIhe hooks L L are united at their extremity and permanently attached to the frame. The hooks L L are preferably made of a single piece, and are loosely attached to the shafts D and F upon their outer extremities. The function, as before stated, of these hooks is to furnish upon their outer surface a track for the passage of the pulleys K.

'I o still further assist in the positive opening and closing of the arms, when desired, I attach to the en d of the bell-crank a disk, which may be integral with the crank itself, or permanently attached thereto. This disk is provided with a recess, h. Upon the different sections of the arms are studs h', adapted to move in the recesses h. If it is .desired to close the arms to grasp the bundle ot' straw, one side of this opening in the disk'h would strike the stud h', and when the contrary movement was desired the other side of the opening would strike upon the opposite side of the stud and force it open, so that it is adapted to operate in each movement, both the opening and closing.

As shown in Fig. 1,I prefer to attach my device to the ordinary reape-r a-t the extremity of the table, so that thestraw, after it is gathered by the revolving rake, will be delivered in proper position upon the arms of my device extended. The pulley B, through which motion is communicated to my device, may receive its motion directly from the'shaft or wheel of the reaper, or it may receive it through any intermediate gearing. This is no part of my invention, as my invention can be easily adapted for use with different classes of reapers-either those which have the wheels permanently attached to the axles, thereby causing the axle to revolve with the wheel, or those whose axles are stationary and whose wheels are adapted to turn thereon.

It is also apparent that my device is peculiarly adapted for use in the combined machines known as combined reapers and mowers-that class oi' machines where the tables are detachable-as my device can be so constructed as to be as readily detached from a reaper as the ordinary grain-table, thereby using the ordinary mowing-machine for not only a mower, but also a reaper and binder. The compressinga-rms being constructed to be extended in a straight line when in an inoperative position, enables the arm to be located slightly below or Hush with the surface ot` the platform of the reaper, thereby allowing Athe grain to be raked over and upon the arms.

Having described the different partsof my device, its operation is as follows: The straw is delivered upon the arms, extended as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6. The pulley B, having a continuous rotary motion, impartsyan intermittent motion to the shafts D and F. After the straw is delivered, as stated, the crank B3 will assume the position indicated by dotted lines, when the` arms themselves will assume the position shown in Fig. 3. The shaft -D turning partially around carrieswith it the bell-crank M, which communicates motion to the lever I, upon the outer end ot which vis the pulley IC, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. As the crank turns the pulley will move forward toward the point of the hook, which motion will cause the j oints between the bell-crank M and thelinksNto open throughout thelength of the arms, thus forcing them in an upright circular position, as shown 'in Fig. 3. While the straw is held in this position any suitable tying mechanism may be employed for the purpose of fastening the sheaf or bundle. The pulley B continuing its rotary movement, the cranks B2 B3 C E will assume the position indicated by the unbroken lines in Fig. 2, when 'the bundle or sheaf is released or dropped from the machine, and the arms are ready to receive another bundle. What I claim is g l. In a grain-binder, the combination, with an actuating-shaft, of a compressing-arm secured at one end to the actuating-shaft, said compressing-arm being composed of a number of jointed sections, and constructed to be curved IOO when its free end is moved in one direction and4 straightened whenlnoved in the opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

2. In a grain-binder, the combination, with two actuatin g-shafts, of separate and independv ent compressing-arms, each securedat one end .an actuating-shaft, of a compressing-arm composed of a number of jointed sections, and bellcrank levers connecting the several sections, one of the bell-cranks being connected with the actuating-shaft, the parts being constructed so that the compressing-arm will be curved throughout its length when its free end is elevated and straightened when its free end is depressed, substantially as set forth.

4. In a gra-in-binder, the combination, with two actuating-shafts, of two compressing-arms, each composed of a series of jointed sections constructed with stops to limit their movement in either direction, said arms constructed to be curved throughout theirlength when the shafts are rotated in one direction and to be straightened when the shafts are rotated in the opposite direction, substantially as set forth.

5. In a grain-binder, the combination, with two actuating-shafts and a trackway, of two compressing-arms, each composed of aseries of jointed sections, and bell-crank levers connecting said sections, and rollers connected with one or more of the bell-crank leversand adapted to travel on said trackway, substantially as set forth. i

In testimony whereof I have signed Lnny name 4o to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' GEORGE B. SHAFER.

Witnesses JN0. CROWELL, Jr., ALBERT E. LYNCH. 

